Havana and what to do for a first timer

[First Lady]

Hi Guys

I have a girlfriend who is going to Cuba in February and although she has a , 8 day tour sorted out she is in Havana for 3 days and asked me what she should do and not miss out on while there.

What would you suggest she sees and do while there?

Thanks

Lisa

This is her list of what she has planned so far

Vinales - cigar factory and Valley of Silence

Cienfuegos - Bay of Pig

Trinidad - 2 days

Santa Clara - armored train museum and Mausoleum of Che Guevara

Than Havana for 3 days

[Ken Gargett]

hasn't occurred to you to ask rob?

[First Lady]

Yes Ken but I also wanted our members suggestions... smarty pants

[LLC]

Dinner at Prado 309 on the terrace upstairs is a must. Slushy Mojitos, grilled squid and lobster tail for the main course are my favorites there.

[Ken Gargett]

'smarty pants' would carry more weight if you didn't have a fluffy white rat as your photo.

does its head bob up and down at traffic lights?

[Guest rob]

I thoroughly recommend sitting on the terrace of The Nacional, overlooking the Malecon, and enjoy a Piña Colada made by Carlos. It's an experience not to be missed, or forgotten.

[El Presidente]

1. on a scale of 1-10, how adventurous is she honey?

2. Is she travelling alone

3. Does she speak or have an understanding of Spanish?

I have limited knowledge of museums and art galleries. My strengths lie elsewhere

[Bulldog4]

trinidad is beautiful ask to go up to the mountains there is an amazing waterfall and its a nice drive up to it over look all of trinidad as for havana. walking the malecon is nice. i attached pictures of waterfall trinidad and the overlooking trinidad

[cigarbreak]

See the sunset walking the Malecon. It was an unforgettable experience

[First Lady]

'smarty pants' would carry more weight if you didn't have a fluffy white rat as your photo.

does its head bob up and down at traffic lights?

yes it does Ken while giving you the finger LOLOL Love you too Ken

BTW it is a Cat not a bunny

[First Lady]

1. on a scale of 1-10, how adventurous is she honey?

2. Is she travelling alone

3. Does she speak or have an understanding of Spanish?

I have limited knowledge of museums and art galleries. My strengths lie elsewhere

1. Very adventurous

2. no idea if she is with someone else but she is not a shy person

3. don't think she understands and Spanish but that won't stop her getting out and seeing havana

[Ken Gargett]

yes it does Ken while giving you the finger LOLOL Love you too Ken

BTW it is a Cat not a bunny

hi L.

who said anything about a bunny. i said rat.

in all seriousness, that is a cat?

my eyes might not be too flash but wow! what happened to it? if you'dd said a paris hilton purse dog, perhaps.

[TiminBC]

I arrived in Cienfuegos by bus with no preplanned accommodations which is rare for me. I stayed in Punta Gorda which was described as Miami in the 1950`s. Lots of old pre-revolution mansions made of marble and the like. There was also a marina with espresso and ice cream that was once the place of the wealthy. Espresso was .50 CUC. Well with a visit.

The town square and casa de musica was ok. The city itself is a little industrial but it has its charms in Punta Gorda.

In Trinidad I sponsor the Cuba Olympic team, well sort of. A street hustler `conned`me out of money for boxing shoes. Well just one shoe. His story was very good and he offered great advice so I contributed to his ... profession. The old own is very post card worthy . The beaches which are 15 minutes by bubble cab are ok, not Varadero but ok. If you do Casas bring ear plugs!!!!

I spend 11 days in Havana going the Jazz festival. Great music, great old Havana tourist stuff. They start late and play hard. The disco stays open til 6 am.

Anyone that speaks English and talks first likely has an angle. Nothing bad , life is tough in Cuba money wise. I have always been happy to be taken a little if it helps.

​A few Spanish sayings always go a long way.

[LordAnubis]

Can't tell you what to do ... but I know what NOT to do... make sure she DOESN'T go to mali before going to Cuba... leave all ebola country travel for AFTER the cuba trip

[El Presidente]

I can fix her up with a guide for the week in Havana and possibly Vinales.

The guide will be there to inform and help. It is well worthwhile just to find all those great eating places, points of interest, farm visits, nightclubs, museums etc.

Trinidad is worth 2 days. Vinales 2 days. Cienfiegos I would pass, Bay of pigs area 2 days. Havana a week or longer.

We can discuss when we catch up. No problem.

[Fuzz AI]

Make sure she doesn't confuse Malecón with maricón.

[Ryan]

I'll post stuff up as I think of them.

On the Prado, a street with a pedestrianised centre island from Parque Central to the Malecon, artists set up on Sundays and sell art. It's not all touristy kitsch, some of it, especially some of the photographs, are quite nice.

A cocktail and lunch on the roof of the Parque Central hotel. Great view of the park, the Capitolio and the Gran Teatro.

View from the roof of the Parque Central Hotel

Calle Obispo, markets, shops and bars.

Plaza de Armas in the old town, book sellers and sellers of various antique bits and bobs set up here every day, I've had some interesting finds there.

A walk starting at Plaza de Armas for the books, down Calle Obispo and finishing for lunch on the roof of the Parque Central is a very, very nice thing, about 1 mile or a 20 minute stroll but lots and lots to see on the way, including Bar Floridita, touristy but a must see for a first timer and the daiquiris, though over-priced at $6 each, are actually very good.

Ernest Hemingway's House, Finca Vigia. Taxi drivers know how to get there now, as far as I remember about 10 cuc for a visit and well worth it. Very interesting house, nice viewing tower and his boat, Pilar is set up there. it's a 20-30 minute drive from the Hotel Nacional. Well worth it.

Finca Vigia, Hemingway's house

The Napoleon Museum, Museo Napoleonico, between the Havana Libre Hotel and the University of Havana. One of the nicer museums I've seen, 3 cucs in, 5 if you want to take photographs. It's in a lovely old private mansion. Can't recommend that place enough. I brought in my Cuban driver for the day and she had no idea it existed. It's a lovely thing.

Review here

http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Attraction_Review-g2198348-d2324600-Reviews-Museo_napoleonico-Ciudad_de_la_Habana_Province_Cuba.html

For souvenir shopping there is a huge indoor market, it must be over an acre, called Antiguos Almacenes San Jose, beside the train station on the waterfront in Old Havana. Jewelry, clothes (guayabaras etc.) art, trinkets whatever. All roofed in, so great if there's a rainy afternoon.

Review here.

http://www.cubaabsolutely.com/Life&Style/article_shopping.php?id=Almacenes-de-San-Jose-on-the-Port-of-Havana

For some "real nightlife" El Sauce or Don Cangrejo.

"El Sauce" (el "sao-say"), outdoor venue, 4 cucs in, it's safe but of course look out for pickpockets. Cubans go there to enjoy the music, not to meet foreigners, though I got chatting with a pair of Cuban grandmothers who were there for the craic and had a great time. A bit "rough and ready" but a great venue. Maybe 600 people, extremely cheap booze, bbq chicken and great bands. Here's a video from February.

Some people might recognise the inebriated greek behind me.

El Sauce.

"Don Cangrejo", great outdoor venue by the sea, great bands. More tourists go there than El Sauce, so more Cubans hoping to meet tourists go there. As I said, great music.

Don Cangrejo

Finally, a month before your friend goes, make sure she goes to this site and downloads the "What's on in Havana" guide for February. It's very good and she might find just the right festival or fair that's her kind of thing. There is usually a huge book fair at the El Morro Castle in mid-february but I can't recommend that, the crowds are just too big. Though interesting that a book fair can have that kind of draw.

http://www.cubaabsolutely.com/index.php

[CUBANO]

Make sure she doesn't confuse Malecón with maricón.

LOL.

[madandana]

Have dinner at Olivo in Vinales......Have the Duck;)

[Guest chunkatlarge]

Hang out with the Machine "the lawn mower man"

Check out some nice 'ceilings'

[RockemSockem]

Finally, a month before your friend goes, make sure she goes to this site and downloads the "What's on in Havana" guide for February. It's very good and she might find just the right festival or fair that's her kind of thing. There is usually a huge book fair at the El Morro Castle in mid-february but I can't recommend that, the crowds are just too big. Though interesting that a book fair can have that kind of draw.

http://www.cubaabsolutely.com/index.php

I agree, check out that link and their publication - amazing photography! The most recent edition has some good resturant reviews as well.